<p>Today, the 2025 FCS playoffs begin with eight first-round games taking place. Three contests kick off at noon ET, and that trio of matchups includes Yale vs. 15<sup>th</sup>-seeded Youngstown State.</p>
<p>This season, the Ivy League awarded an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs for the first time. Yale (8-2, 6-1 Ivy League) claimed it with a 45-28 win over 9-0 Harvard (who still earned an at-large berth) in New Haven last weekend.</p>
<p>Youngstown State (8-4, 5-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference), meanwhile, received an at-large berth after closing out the regular season with three consecutive wins.</p>
<p>The winner of Yale vs. Youngstown State will advance to face second-seeded Montana State next weekend. While the Bobcats are one of the favorites to reach the championship game, Yale and Youngstown State do not enter the playoffs with high expectations.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs are as significant a part of college football history as the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, but that only counts for so much in the current era.</p>
<p>Youngstown State also doesn’t currently occupy the space in the spotlight that it once did. Under Jim Tressel, Youngstown State was the best of the FCS in the 1990s, winning four national championships (1991, 1993, 1994, and 1997) and finishing runner-up in 1992 and 1999.</p>
<p>However, this will be just the program&#8217;s fourth appearance in the playoffs since Tressel departed for Ohio State after the 2000 season. Most recently, the Penguins reached the second round in 2023, defeating Duquesne in the first round before losing to Villanova in the second round.</p>
<p>Who will make the trek to Bozeman, Montana next week? Read on for our Yale vs. Youngstown State prediction and picks, as well as the best betting odds from <a href="/best-online-sportsbooks/">top online sportsbooks</a> such as <a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BetOnline</a>.</p>
<h2><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yale vs. Youngstown State Odds</a></h2>
<div class="su-table su-table-responsive su-table-alternate">
<table class="table table-bordered">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Spread</th>
<th>Moneyline</th>
<th>Over/Under</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Yale</th>
<td>+4 (-125)</td>
<td>n/a</td>
<td>Over 61.5 (-115)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Youngstown State</th>
<td>-4 (-105)</td>
<td>n/a</td>
<td>Under 61.5 (-115)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2>Yale vs. Youngstown State Prediction and Picks</h2>
<h3>Prediction: Youngstown State to win</h3>
<p>Other than last weekend’s bid-clinching crushing of the Crimson, the only other playoff team that the Bulldogs have faced this season is fifth-seeded (and undefeated) Lehigh, who defeated Yale 31-13 on October 4.</p>
<p>By comparison, Youngstown State is a part of a conference that has five other representatives in the playoffs. The Penguins played four of those teams, losing one-score games to South Dakota State (pre-Chase Mason injury) and North Dakota State, losing at North Dakota, and winning at Illinois State. They also defeated Southern Illinois, who was an at-large contender until late in the season, and lost 41-24 at Michigan State on September 13.</p>
<p>Having played so much tough competition makes Youngstown State one of the more intriguing at-large teams in the <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2025">FCS playoff bracket</a>. Were they not paired with Montana State, they would be worthy of consideration as a potential sleeper pick to reach at least the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>They also have the most prolific quarterback in the FBS or FCS in junior signal-caller <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/5109518/beau-brungard">Beau Brungard</a>.</p>
<p>In 12 games, Brungard has completed 69.0% of his passes for 2,913 yards and 23 touchdowns (with only three interceptions), run for 1,378 yards and 24 touchdowns (at 6.1 yards per attempt), and even caught a touchdown pass.</p>
<p>Can Yale stiffen up enough to have a shot vs. Youngstown State? The Bulldogs enter the playoffs ranked 23<sup>rd</sup> in the FCS in yards allowed per game (329.1), eighth in rushing yards allowed per attempt (3.13) and passing efficiency defense. Also, they were the first team to hold Harvard under 30 points all season long.</p>
<p>However, I like the Penguins in this one. Brungard is a beast, and Youngstown State has averaged 42.8 points per game at home this season. I think they will be a bit too much for Yale in this one.</p>
<h3>Yale vs. Youngstown State Picks</h3>
<h4><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Youngstown State -4 (-105 at BetOnline)</a></h4>
<h4><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yale/Youngstown State Over 61.5 (-115 at BetOnline)</a></h4>
<p>Yale’s offense can’t be overlooked in this matchup. Quarterback Dante Reno (a transfer from South Carolina and son of Yale head coach Tony Reno) has had a solid season, running back Josh Pitsenberger has five consecutive 100-yard games and eight total this season, and receiver Nico Brown (60 catches, 978 yards, 10 TD) has six 100-yard games, including three in a row entering today’s game vs. Youngstown State.</p>
<p>I think we will see both teams put up some points in this one, but it will ultimately be the Penguins waddling on to the second round and a matchup with Montana State.</p>
<h2 id="other-college-football-betting-information">Other College Football Betting Information</h2>
<h3>Other NCAA Football Content at Betting News</h3>
<p>College football is one of the most popular sports to bet on, and Betting News cover it extensively. In addition to predictions and expert picks for matchups such as Yale vs. Youngstown State, you can check out our aggregated <a href="/ncaaf/picks/">college football picks</a>, compare <a href="/ncaaf/odds/">NCAA football odds</a> from <a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BetOnline</a> and other <a href="/ncaaf/college-football-betting-sites/">college football betting sites</a>, and <a href="/sports-betting-guides/college-football-betting-guide/">learn how to bet on college football</a> through the content we have on the site.</p>
<p>Be sure to bookmark Betting News so you can keep up with the content we provide for the 2025 college football season.</p>
<h3>Follow Betting News on Social Media</h3>
<p>Also, we cover college football in great depth on our Twitch streams and our other social media channels. Follow us on Twitch, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube for frequent NCAA football betting insight from our content team.</p>
<p>That includes our weekly college football show, &#8220;The Ole College Try,&#8221; which streams every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/YourBettingNews">Betting News on “X”/Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/bettingnews">Betting News on Twitch</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbettingnews?lang=en">Betting News on TikTok</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@YourBettingNews">Betting News on YouTube</a></li>
</ul>


Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard - Yale vs. Youngstown State Prediction & Picks (11/29/2025) - 2025 FCS Playoffs First Round

Yale vs. Youngstown State Prediction & Picks (2025 FCS Playoffs): Will the Bulldogs Pluck the Penguins to Move On?

Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State: Conference USA Championship | December 5, 2025

Dan Mullen led the Rebels to 10 wins in his first season as Head Coach - Boise State UNLV Picks

UNLV vs. Boise State Picks and Predictions: Mountain West Championship

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah - No. 19 Virginia vs. Duke Prediction & Best Bets (11/15/2025)

Duke vs. #17 Virginia: ACC Conference Championship | December 6, 2025

Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State are back in the Big Ten Championship this season - Indiana Ohio State Picks

#2 Indiana vs. #1 Ohio State Picks and Predictions: Big Ten Championship

Jon Sumrall was hired as the next head coach of the Florida Gators - Tulane North Texas Picks

Yale vs. Youngstown State Prediction & Picks (2025 FCS Playoffs): Will the Bulldogs Pluck the Penguins to Move On?

Eddie Griffin

More NCAAF News

Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State: Conference USA Championship | December 5, 2025

UNLV vs. Boise State Picks and Predictions: Mountain West Championship

Duke vs. #17 Virginia: ACC Conference Championship | December 6, 2025

#2 Indiana vs. #1 Ohio State Picks and Predictions: Big Ten Championship

#24 North Texas vs. #20 Tulane Picks and Predictions: AAC Championship